In advance of Saturday night’s key game against the University of Massachusetts Minutemen, NESN analysts Eric Frede and Craig Janney take a look at how Merrimack College has bounced back from a program on the brink four or five seasons ago.

“It is a big game for Merrimack College when the coach walks in with facial hair,” said Frede, alluding to the coach approaching the game as if it was the playoffs.

The main reason Merrimack has authored a resurgent program that is 3-0-1 in its four last games has to do with “attracting talent and getting secondary scoring,” said Janney.